Fence post



March 3, 1970 w. TURNER, JR 3,498,588

FENCE POST Filed Dec. 27, 1968 Arum 1/10/00; Turns/3dr".

INVENTOR.

ja gufi uza ATTORNEY United States Patent U.S. Cl. 256-47 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Specific improvements in a tubular post which, in its erected position, is driven in the ground, as distinguished from other posts which are set in concrete. The post has a water hole in one side thereof near its upper end, in the erected position of the post, whereby water may be poured inside the post, as in dry weather, to wet the ground around the post and cause the earth to pack more firmly around the post, and has a pair of mutually aligned longitudinal slots in opposite sides thereof, above the lower end of the post and below the surface of the ground, in the erected position of the post. A stabilizer plate is received in the aligned slots of the pair and extends laterally outwardly beyond opposite sides of the post, in the erected position of the post. The plate has a pair of integral spring clips, made by deforming the material of the plate on one side thereof for abutting engagement with the outside of the post, on opposite sides thereof, to secure the plate against lateral displacement relative to .the post, whereby the plate is locked in place in its operative position.

Brief summary of the invention The invention concerns certain specific improvements in a tubular post which in its erected position is driven in the ground, as distinguished from other posts which are set in concrete.

According to the invention a water hole is provided in one side of the post near its upper end, in the erected position of the post, whereby water may be poured inside the post, as in dry weather, by means of a water hose, to wet the ground around the post and cause it to pack more firmly around it.

The invention is particularly applicable to the posts of chain link fences, for example, which have a hollow cap on the upper end of the post providing a top closure for the post whereby its upper end is positively sealed and water is prevented from getting inside the post from the top thereof,

A pair of mutually aligned longitudinal slots are provided in opposite sides of the post, above the lower end of the post and below the surface of the ground, in the erected position of the post. The lower end of the post is open and the slots form, with the open lower end of the post, water outlets for the discharge of water poured inside the post, as by a water hose, through the water hole in one side thereof. The arrangement is such that a supply of water collecting inside the post, in the erected position thereof, will seep gradually into the surrounding earth through the lower end of the post, and through the slots.

A stabilizer plate, which is received in the aligned slots of the pair and extends laterally outwardly beyond opposite sides of the post, in the erected position thereof, is provided for abutting engagement with the opposing earth,

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to prevent the post from leaning or falling in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the plane of the plate. The stabilizer plate has a pair of integral spring clips, made by deforming the material of the plate, on one side thereof for abutting engagement with the outside of the post, on opposite sides thereof, to secure the plate against lateral displacement relative to the post, whereby the plate is locked in place in its operative position.

This invention relates to a fence post, and it concerns more particularly certain specific improvements, as hereinafter described, in a tubular post which, in its erected position, is driven in the ground, as distinguished from other posts which are set in concrete.

One of the improvements which comprise the invention is a water hole in one side of the post near its upper end, in the erected positionof the post, whereby water may be poured inside the post, as in dry weather, by means of a water hose, to wet the ground around the post and cause it to pack more firmly around it.

The invention is particularly applicable to the posts of chain link fences, for example, which have a hollow cap on the upper end of the post providing a top closure for the post whereby its upper end is positively sealed and water is prevented from getting inside the post from the top thereof.

In dry weather, which in some areas and seasons may continue for long periods, the ground may shrink and form wide cracks, from drouth, and the earth surrounding fence posts may contract, and pull away from the posts, so'that the posts become loose in the ground.

The problem above described is applicable primarily to fence posts as contemplated by this invention, which are driven in the ground, as distinguished from other posts which are set in concrete.

This invention contemplates providing means for wetting the ground surrounding fence posts as described to cause the earth to pack more firmly around the posts.

According to the invention the post also has a pair of mutually aligned longitudinal slots in opposite sides thereof, above the lower end of the post and below the surface of the ground, in the erected position of the post.

The lower end of the post is open and the slots form, with the open lower end of the post, water outlets for the discharge of water poured inside the post, as by a water hose, through the water hole in one side thereof.

The arrangement is such that a supply of water collecting inside the post, in the erected position thereof, will seep gradually into the surrounding earth through the lower end of the post, and through the slots.

A stabilizer plate, which is received in the aligned slots of the pair and extends laterally outwardly beyond opposite sides of the post, in the erected position of the post, is provided for abutting engagement with the opposing earth, to prevent the post from leaning or falling in a horizontal direction'perpendicular to the plane of the plate.

The stabilizer plate has a-pair of integral spring clips, made by deforming the material of the plate, on one side thereof for abutting engagement with the outside of the post, on opposite sides thereof, to secure the plate against lateral displacement relative to the post, whereby the plate is locked in place in its operative position.

In one form of the invention the post has a second pair of mutually aligned longitudinal slots in opposite sides thereof, above the slots of the first pair and offset substan- .position of the post, substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first mentioned plate.

The use of stabilizer plates in association with metal fence posts, not necessarily tubular, for the purpose described, is not new. The improvement which comprises the invention resides in the specific structure, as illustrated, whereby the stabilizer plate, in its detached position, is separate from the post, which facilitates stacking and storing, and transporting the posts.

According to the invention the post and the stabilizer plate may be conveniently assembled in the field, without need for welding or the use of special tools or fastening devices, such as nuts and bolts.

The improvements which comprise the invention are not necessarily limited altogether to tubular fence posts as used in chain link fences specifically, or those which, in their erected positions, are driven in the ground.

The improvements of the invention may be useful also as applied to posts other than fence posts, and some of the improvements may be useful in posts which are set in concrete, for example, as distinguished from driven posts. The improved features, or any of them, would not make the post less suitable, when set in concrete, than other posts which do not include such features.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing a portion of a wire fence including a pair of tubular metal posts each having incorporated therein the specific improvements as described which comprise the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing a corner portion of a fence as illustrated in FIG. 1, showing the invention as applied to the several posts thereof, four of which are illustrated;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a tubular metal fence post embodying the invention, showing one of the stabilizer plates in its detached position preparatory to passing it through the aligned slots therefor in the post whereby the plate is secured to the post;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the invention as applied to a chain link fence, showing a hollow metal cap, applied to the upper end of a fence post, providing a top closure for the post and a connecting fitting whereby a top rail of the fence is connected to the post; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the lower end portion of a post as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, showing a different form of stabilizer plate as applied thereto.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the numeral 1 designates generally a wire fence, shown 'fragmentarily, which includes a plurality of tubular metal posts, indicated by the numeral 2, each having incorporated therein the specific improvements hereinafter described which comprise the invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing, an important feature of the invention is a water hole, indicated by the numeral 3, which is provided in one side of the post 2, below its upper end, for use in pouring water inside the post, as in dry weather, by means of a water hose (not shown), to wet the ground surrounding the post and cause the earth to pack more firmly around the post.

As shown in FIG. 4, a hollow metal cap 4, which is connected to the upper end of the post 2, provides a top closure for the post 2 whereby the upper end of the post 2 is positively sealed and water is prevented from getting inside the post from the top. The cap 4 also provides a connecting fitting whereby a top rail of the fence 1, indicated by the numeral 5, is connected to the post 2.

The post 2 has at least one pair of longitudinal slots 6, in opposite sides thereof, in alignment with each other, which are positioned below the surface of the ground, indicated by the line 7, shown in FIG. 1, in the erected position of the post 2.

The slots 6, with the open lower end of the post 2, provide water outlets in the post 2 below the surface of the ground 7 for the discharge of water poured inside the post 2, through the water hole 3, and collecting therein.

In use a supply of water collecting inside the post 2 will seep gradually into the surrounding earth from the bottom of the post 2 and the slots 6.

The aligned slots 6 of the pair also have received therein a planar member 8, referred to hereinafter as a stabilizer plate, which is passed through the aligned slots 6 and extend laterally outwardly beyond opposite sides of the post 2.

The stabilizer plate 8 has a pair of integral spring clips 9, made by deforming the material of the plate, as in a stamping operation, on one side thereof, for abutting engagement with the outside of the post 2, on opposite sides thereof, to secure the stablizer plate 8 against lateral displacement relative to the post 2.

The spring clips 9 are yieldable and are adapted to be passed through the slots 6 of the pair in one direction only, so that the stabilizer plate 8 is securely locked in place in its operative position.

As shown in FIG. 1, the stabilizer plates 8 on the posts 2 are arranged parallel to the fence line, for abutting engagement with the opposing earth, in the erected positions of the posts 2, to prevent the fence 1 from leaning or falling in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the plane of the respective stabilizer plates 8.

As shown in FIG. 3, the post 2 has two pairs of the slots 6. The slots 6 of one pair are positioned above the slots 6 of the other pair, and are offset degrees circumferentially relative thereto. The slots 6 of each pair have a stabilizer plate 8 received therein.

The arrangement described in the next preceding paragraph is intended primarily for use at corner posts, and end posts and gate posts, substantially as illustrated in FIG. 2, to prevent the fence 1 from leaning or falling in any direction due to the action of wind, snow, or pressure from any source.

The invention may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

1. In a tubular post which, in its erected position, is driven in the ground, the improvements which comprise a water hole in one side of the post near its upper end, in the erected position of the post, whereby water may be poured inside the post, as in dry weather, to wet the ground around the post and cause the earth to pack more firmly around the post, a pair of mutually aligned longitudinal slots in opposite sides of the post, above the lower end of the post and below the surface of the ground, in the erected position of the post, and a stabilizer plate received in the aligned slots of the pair and extending laterally outwardly beyond opposite sides of the post, in the erected position of the post, the plate having a pair of integral spring clips, made by deforming the material of the plate, on one side thereof for abutting engagement with the outside of the post, on opposite sides thereof, to secure the plate against lateral displacement relative to the post, whereby the plate is locked in place in its operative position.

2. In a tubular post which, in its erected position, is driven in the ground, the improvement which comprises a pair of mutually aligned longitudinal slots in opposite sides thereof, above the lower end of the post and below the surface of the ground, in the erected position of the post, and a stabilizer plate received in the aligned slots of the pair and extending laterally outwardly beyond opposite sides of the post, in the erected position of the post, the plate having a pair of integral spring clips,

made by deforming the material of the plate, on one side thereof for abutting engagement with the outside of the post, on opposite sides thereof, to secure the plate against lateral displacement relative to the post, whereby the plate is locked in place in its operative position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Webster 256-48 Thomson 52158 10 Brown 52-157 X Mesnard 52157 X Lanham.

4/1911 France.

DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

